Meanings
laura1
plural lauras · plural laurae · alternative lavra
- historicalCatholicismA number of hermitages or cells in the same neighborhood occupied by anchorites who were under the same superior
The solitaries of the Thebaid found that they became selfish wild beasts, or went mad, if they remained alone; and they formed themselves into lauras, 'lanes' of huts, convents, under a common abbot or father.
1864, Charles Kingsley, Lecture IX: The Monk a Civilizer: The Roman and the Teuton: A Series of Lectures Delivered Before the University of Cambridge, page 240 - historicalEastern OrthodoxyA cluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre.
There were the cenobia, or monasteries proper, where the life was according to the lines laid down by St Basil; and there were the lauras, wherein a semi-eremitical life was followed, the monks living in separate huts within the enclosure.
1966, E. C. Butler, “Chapter XVIII: Monasticism”, in H. M. Gwatkin, J. P. Whitney, editors, The Cambridge Medieval History, volume 1, page 529
Laura2
alternative rare Lora
- A female given name from Latin.
Laura was saying something. A mellifluous name, he thought. I wish she were far away, so I could call her.
1960 Peter S. Beagle: A Fine And Private Place. Random House Publishing, 1982:The Fantasy Worlds of Peter Beagle. →ISBN page 2583 more examples
Now is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in; Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better love to be-rime her;
c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]'Mine's Laura'./ 'A beautiful name.'/ Laura has never liked her name. It's too old-fashioned and has, to her mind, a slightly whiny sound, like the twang of a country and western guitar. In fact she was given the name because Michelle liked the song 'Tell Laura I Love Her'.
2019 February 7, Elly Griffiths, The Stone Circle: The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 11, Hachette UK, →ISBNThe request for a retraction centers around an October 28 segment on Laura Ingraham’s prime time show, “The Ingraham Angle.”
2019 November 20, Oliver Darcy, “Lawyer for impeachment witness Lt. Col Vindman demands Fox News retract ‘false and defamatory’ segment”, in CNN
Origin
laura · noun
- Ancient Greekλαύρα“lane, path”
- Late Latinlaura
- Englishlaura
From the Late Latin laura, from Ancient Greek λαύρα (laúra, “lane, path”).
More words from Late Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Laura · proper noun
From Late Latin saint's name Laura, from the feminine form of laurus (“laurel tree”). A post-classical name made famous by Petrarch's sonnets to Laura in the fourteenth century.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Chinese Mandarin 羅娜 /罗娜, 蘿拉 /萝拉
- 羅娜 /罗娜 (Luónà)female given name
- 蘿拉 /萝拉 (Luólā)female given name
- 勞拉 /劳拉 (Láolā)female given name
Czech lávra
- lávralarge male monastery
Danish Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Dutch Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Esperanto lavro, lavro
- lavrolarge male monastery
- lavrocluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre
- Laŭrafemale given name
Estonian Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Finnish Laura
- Laurafemale given name
French Laura, Laure
- Laurafemale given name
- Laurefemale given name
German Laura, Laure
- Lauralarge male monastery
- Laurelarge male monastery
- Lavralarge male monastery
- Lawralarge male monastery
- Lauracluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre
- Laurecluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre
- Lavracluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre
- Lawracluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre
- Laurafemale given name
Greek Λαύρα
- Λαύρα (Lávra)female given name
Hebrew לורה, לאורה
- לורה (lóra)female given name
- לאורה (láura)female given name
Hungarian Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Italian laura, lavra
- lauralarge male monastery
- lavralarge male monastery
- lauracluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre
- lavracluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre
- Laurafemale given name
Japanese ローラ
- ローラ (Rōra)female given name
Latin Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Latvian Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Norwegian Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Polish ławra, ławra
- ławralarge male monastery
- ławracluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre
- Laurafemale given name
Portuguese Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Romanian Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Russian Ло́ра, Ла́ура
- Ло́ра (Lóra)female given name
- Ла́ура (Láura)female given name
Spanish Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Swedish Laura
- Laurafemale given name
Ukrainian ла́вра
- ла́вра (láŭra)large male monastery
Welsh Lowri
- Lowrifemale given name
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with laura
Anagrams
Cite this entry
laura. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laura
“laura.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laura. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “laura,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laura.
Source: laura on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.